Flight attendants at Mesa Airlines, a regional carrier for American and United, are engaging the public this week to pressure the airline for a fair contract. They have been in negotiations since 2012. Heather Stevenson is an Executive Council President with the Association of Flight Attendants:

[Heather Stevenson]: “We’re so far apart. Basically the contract that we’re working under right now is a bankruptcy contract. We entered and exited bankruptcy in record time, in a year, but basically we are now looking at twelve years without any significant increase in pay or benefits. It’s been a struggle. Our flight attendants are getting further and further behind. We’re at the bottom, or close to the bottom, of every pay group, and they’re not offering anything to even make it a livable wage [for our group.] It is a shame when our flight attendants have to choose between putting a roof over their head, putting food on the table, insuring your family. It’s the bare necessities. Out flight attendants cannot afford to live.”

In March, 99.6% of AFA-CWA members at Mesa voted to approve a strike authorization, which is still on the table. Stevenson says that the business model used by the airlines is at fault, with flight attendants hired directly by United and American earning at least 40% more:

[Heather Stevenson]: “Basically, the airlines contract out to the lowest bidder and put that savings in their pockets. It falls on the backs of our flight attendants to do the same amount of work, provide the same safety and service, at a drastically reduced level of compensation.”

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